I was writing to a person a while ago who didn't have access to most modern anything and he spent a great deal of his day playing games like Tic-Tac-Toe. I was rather surprised that people play Tic-Tac-Toe for much of their lives without figuring out how to win. I ruined Tic-Tac-Toe for him and today, I'm going to ruin it for you, too!


It's simple. If you're X, go middle.
If you're O, start in a corner.

Play as optimally as you can (that should be easy if you 10 or older).

If X is in middle, you'll win or tie.
If O is in the corner, you'll tie.
Otherwise, X wins.

Congratulations. You're now a master of Tic-Tac-Toe!



If you want to play a more fun version, try this:

http://www.scheinerman.net/jonah/supertictactoe.html

mastered in 5th grade

thank you guru. I feel wise.

nuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu you ruined it for me FOREVAH !!!
http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Ruined_FOREVER

FOREVER !!!
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/DarthWiki/RuinedFOREVER

( transformers have a tendency to have an EXTREEEEEEEEEEEEEME reaction to changes )

I enjoyed playing Tic Tac Toe in Sam & Max Episode 6 (season 1).

A better refinement: the best strategy for O is to take two corners on the first two moves (unless O needs to block two Xs from winning by taking a non-corner).

Secondly, if you're playing against someone who is using the above strategy, a good move is to play X in a corner for your first move, there are a few ways you can win if O takes the centre and then a corner in their first two moves (eg X taking two opposite corners).

Now who wants to play a friendly game of Global Thermonuclear War?

the best move is not to play

Only if someone isnt paying attention. Assuming everyone makes the proper move the OP is correct. Otherwise you are just waiting for someone to make a mistake.

"The only winning move is not to play. How about a nice game of chess?"


Edit: Damn! You beat me to it!

*points* ha ha !

actually you got the correct quote i didnt

1) X takes middle
2) O takes a corner
3) X takes corner opposite the O
4) O takes a non-corner (not a 'mistake' yet at this point)
5) X wins in two moves

i used to threaten to burn the paper actually ;p

Increase grid size to 9 * 9.

That makes the fundamental assumption that X goes first. Everyone I played with growing up, whoever had first turn chose whether to use X or O, and the second player used the other. In which case:

Player 1 should always choose middle.
Player 2 should always choose corner.